May 24 is the Day of Slavic literature and culture

The Day of Slavic literature and culture is celebrated in Russia today. This is the only state-religious holiday in the country, established in 1991. It is dated to the day of the memory of the apostles Cyril and Methodius – the founders of the Slavic alphabet.

Slavic written language was invented in the IX century, about the year of 862. The new alphabet was called “Cyrillic” after the name of Byzantine Constantine, who became Cyril after having adopted the monkshood. His elder brother Methodius helped him.

Cyril invented the Slavic alphabet on the base of the Greek one, but substantially changed it in order to meet the peculiarity of the Slavic sound system. As a result, two Slavic alphabets have been made: the Glagolithic and the Cyrillic.

The festive action, devoted to the Days of Slavic literature and culture and to the 150th anniversary of the Aksakov’s City Garden, will take place today in the City Garden.

The IV Cyril-Methodius readings will take place at the Moscow State Humanitarian University (Ufa office) on May 26 and the program includes the VII regional student’s conference “We are in the Slavic world” and the “round table” to the topic “The role of state and native languages in education of a citizens of new Bashkortostan”.

The Days of Slavic literature and culture will be over in Bashkortostan on May 29 in the village “BALTIKA”, where the Byelorussian folk-pop group “SYABRY” makes a show.